Knights Templar.

opinion alone that he should offer . He believed that they bad taken a great vantage ground that day . They had been very ill-treated , it was no use to blink the question ( loud cheers ); they bad been expelled from the Temple in Freemasons ' Hall , and if they had not taken that as a notice to ¦ quit , they would have been undeserving the name of Knights Templar . ( Hear , hear . ) They had provided a home ,

and lie implored them not to lose the status they had gained by so doing . The Grand Lodge of England , through its executive officer , had ill-treated them ; but he called upon every Sir Knt . not to retaliate , but to say that house was a home for all who were expelled . ( Hear , hear . ) He did not think the M . AV . G . M . would have been guilty of such injustice ,

bnt tlle executive had . ( A Voice— "He said he was the Grand Master . " ) Still there was no reason to retaliate by following in the wake of that example . They bad found a home , and they must stick close to it for many years to come . ( Loud cheering . ) The D . G . MASTEII said there could but be one opinion that

their G . Supt . of AVorks , Sir Knt . Spratt , had done his work well . ( Hear , hear . ) For his own part , he did not expect to have seen nearly so much done [ considering the difficulties Sir Knight Spratt had had to contend against ; and he felt sure that they would all join cordially in drinking " The Health of their G . Supt . of Works . " Sir Knt . II . W . SniATT said , in reply , he begged to tender his

sincere thanks for the honour they bad done him in drinking his health . It was with mingled feelings of pleasure and regret that he responded to it , because he felt how imperfect the whole affair was at present —( No , no ) , —bnt he begged to ask them to suspend their judgment before coming to a conclusion . He knew that the hall should have been complete , but circumstances

had compelled them to open it in , what he called , a temporary stage , and he had asked for an extra fortnight , but it was found impracticable to alter the day of meeting . When the hall was finished , and he felt he could say it is an fait accompli , he should feel delighted at having performed the work ; and would make it one of the most handsome rooms extant before he had

done his part . When it was but six mouths since they were thrust into the glee-room of the Tavern , he did feel it was no small gratification to be able to say , here we are . ( Loud cheers . ) Their M . E . and S . G . M . had called it by one of the most endearing words in the language , "home ; " and as the song said " there was no xilace like home , " so he hoped they would think there was -no home for Freemasons like their hall . ( Immense

cheering ) No one could imagine that it was an opposition to ihe Grand Lodge Property ; and , although there was a good deal of unpleasant feeling about and all sorts of rumours , they must not overlook tlie fact that the executive had forced them to act for themselves . When they found they must do so their M . E . and S . G . M . said he would give £ 1000 towards it , and in the

course of the next day added another £ 300 to it , ( Loud cheers . ) For the dinner that day he owed them some apology . ( No , no ) . But he said , yes , for at eleven o ' clock that morning their caterer was assisted by having his kitchen full of plasterers and bricklayers ; be felt sure the most fastidious individual would say that , under the circumstances , the dinner reflected

great credit on the brother who provided for them , and , as a sample of what could be ( lone in that direction , with such disadvantages , they would look hopefully forward towards the time when they would he in full working order . Sir Knt . Spratt resumed his seat amidst general cheers . The D . G . M . then vacated the chair , and was succeeded by Bro . J . Newton Tomkins , G . Treasurer , who , in a warm and elegant manner , proposed " The health of Sir Knt . Law , the G . Chancellor . ' '

Sir Knt . LAAV said he could claim no honour in connection with tbe hall . It was the property of a Joint-Stock Company , and had nothing to do with Grand Conclave , but as their landlord . It was true their M . E . and S . G . M . was the principal shareholder , and many of the members of Grand Conclave were associated with him ; but they had to act as a legally constituted company , set forth for certain definite purposes . For the

company , it had his best wishes ; and for the proposal and reception of his health he tendered them his best thanks . ( Hear , hear . ) Sir Knt . FEAXCIS , Prov . G . Com ., Herts , had a toast to propose , that of their esteemed Sir Knt . J . Newton Tomkins , G . Treas ., one of the very best officers of Grand Conclave , a worthy

Knight , and a respected Freemason . ( Hear , hear . ) Sir Knt . TOSIKIXS said he owed the position he held in the esteem of the Sir Knights to the good feeling and good fellowship which always existed amongst Knights Templar , and he hoped that for many years it might be " Fsfo perpetn-ns " ( loud cheers)—that he might long be ranked as a worthy Sir

Knight , and ever progress in good fellowship , knowledge , and Knight Templary . Sir Knt . Tomkins then said he firmly believed that Templary was entering ou a new era , and he could not refrain from paying the full meed of credit to Bro . Feunell , tbe caterer , who had entered on his duties amidst very great difficulties , but had carried out bis instructions in the most

clever way , and produced a banquet to which not one exception could be made . ( Hear , hear . ) Bro . FESSELL was ashamed not to have changed his dress , but the difficulties he had had to contend with must be his excuse . Their kind acknowledgment would make him endeavour to please , and although it was possible to make a bad dinner pass off well if the wine was good , yet it was his intention to

serve both good dinners and the best of wine in that hall . Sir Knt . RIDG / WAY wished to propose a toast , and after making some very uncalled for and unpopular statements about Templary , and being repeatedly called to order by the Chairman , Sir Knt . TOSIKISS said they were there as Knights Templar , and must be careful not to import other matters into the meeting . They were willing to drink Sir Knt . Binckes's health as a

Sir Knt . and an old and valued friend . ( Hear , hear . ) Sir Knt . BlXCKES , in reply , said , whatever he was disposed to say he should , because of the difficulties started , confine himself to the toast as given by the chairman , who everybody respected and no one valued more than himself . He ( Sir Knt . Binckes ) had . but one simple object at heart in any portion o £

Freemasonry . The higher degrees had not received proper recognition in this country , but the result of that night ' s meeting was the best answer to their opponents , and brought to the test the sincerity of their own profession . They were ignored by those who had refused them the accommodation they required , and he had cast his lot in with them from a love of their

principles , for he never had found any vest until he enjoyed the fellowship of the Christian degrees . It was not to be supposed that he could address them as the Provisional Secretary of the Masonic Union Company , but as a Knight Templar lie did ask them to render every support to the undertaking , feeling that there had been that day a stone laid perfect in all its parts , and

honourable to the builder . ( Hear , hear . ) Passing over Sir Knfc . Ridgway's many interruptions , Sir Knt . Binckes returned his thanks to those sincere friends who had done him the honour to drink his health . The Sir Knts . shortly after separated , well pleased with the ceremonies of the day , so well planned and carried out hy Sir Knt . Meymott ; the elegance of the hall , which reflects such I credit on Sir Knt . Spratt ; the good fare , so excellently pro-